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Which non-Android/iOS Computers do you use?

My main computer is a 14" M1 Macbook Pro.

I also use a range of Linux desktops and servers, mostly running CentOS 7 at the moment but migration to 9 starting (it's likely that some grid nodes are using other distros, but I only interact with them second-hand via the middleware).

There's a HP Windows machine in the corner of our living room, but beyond occasionally running some photo editing software on it I rarely have much to do with that, it's mainly for my wife's work.

(Historically I've used a range of proprietary Unix workstations, IBM mainframes, set up and done system administration on a DEC Vaxcluster, and briefly used a Cray - which was terrible software environment. But since x86-based machines became powerful enough to be worth using in the late 90s all of the real work has been done on various Linuxes).
 
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I got a collection of laptops running Windows 7 Pro and one that runs XP Home, at a vendor mall for $40-50 each. I'm using the Vostro 1700 w/ Windows 7 now. I love its UI so much and will not give it up.

These laptops have replaceable RAM, batteries (which still work) and spinner HDDs and the useful HDD activity light to know if it's busy or not. These are useful things to me. I don't want disposable machines with glued in batteries or soldered RAM and I doubt highly any SSD will make it 16 years much less 30. I buy for life. Lately my purchaes have been secondhand. I don't find anything that's new remotely interesting anymore.
 
Custom gaming PC. AMD 5800X, Zotac 3070, 32gb Corsair Vengeance 3600mhz. 2 A-Data NVME, 2 Samsung SSD, 2 Toshiba platter drives. MSI X470 Gaming Plus. MSI AIO watercooler.
 
My old clunker of comp, Still has a few bugs in it, but worth it, windows ten.. Yeah, I am married to this machine.. To travel is my tablet, but I have to wait for to get someplace to prop it open.
 
Windroid said:
What kind of computer is it?
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mikedt said:
BTW what computers do you use? Is it PC or Mac, or something else?
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My Surface Go 3, a tablet-laptop hybrid running both Windows and Android. I do have two mothballed ThinkPads in my drawer. I don't use them, but I've set them up so that they're ready to go if my Surface breaks or something. I also have a MacBook Pro which needs to be repaired.

Most interestingly: There's my old AlphaSmart. AlphaSmarts are portable smart keyboards, they have a screen at top. You type a document up, then plug the AlphaSmart into a computer, and it will type your document into the computer for you. It can also be used as a conventional keyboard. I've been meaning to dig my old AlphaSmart out, give it Bluetooth, and then use it with my Surface.

My AlphaSmart is a Dana, which means that unlike most, it runs Palm OS. Palm OS was the Android of it's day, it was a common operating system on handheld computers. While all AlphaSmarts are smart keyboards, because mine runs Palm OS, it could also run apps and all. Unfortunately, Palm OS isn't too useful in the modern world. But my AlphaSmart should still work fine as a smart keyboard.
 
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I used Palm devices between ~1998-2010. My original Palm V was probably my favourite.

They were doomed by the idiotic decision to separate OS and hardware into separate companies, and in the phone market by the stubbornness of their founder who insisted that a small square screen with a physical thumboard underneath was the only true form factor for a smartphone, despite many Palm users making it very clear what they wanted (and was eventually made by others). I assume that these days business schools teach Palm as an example of how to take an early lead and throw it away...
 
I've been spending the last two weeks' effort installing some flavour of Linux on every PC I own. Specifically skeuomorphic distros such as Mandriva 2010, VectorLinux 6, and Pear Linux 3, and one modern one, Q4OS. Also playing with old Android x86 variants that run on 2.2 or 2.3, and one running 4.1. So far, only the laptop running 4.1 works properly, the rest no sound, no wifi, and won't accept any APKs. Still trying though.
 
Yes. The Androidx86 laptop running 4.1 Jelly Bean works (wifi, sound, even touchscreen) but trying to sideload APK files (third-party apps) fails, or they install but immediately crash on launch. Never figured that one out. Chrome (and old version) that should work doesn't, and many apps compatible with JB up and immediately close. Never know why.

I was only able to successfully install AOSP Music, and ES File Explorer. That was it. Not even Angry Birds 1.6.2 runs.

I'm still attempting to find a method that allows a much older, Android 2.2/2.3 base to run at least as well (for sound and wifi) because those were my favorite Android versions, and at least I could use them again for simple tasks at work (music, PDF viewers, notes, etc). No Android 2.3 phone can connect to a cellular network today and I'm still angry over it.
 
Actually I've got an Android 2.3 phone that can connect to a cellular network today. But that's because for the moment we've still got 2G and 3G networks operating (3G will start shutting down over the next couple of years, 2G may linger another decade).
 
Yeah it's a U.S. and to extent, Australia thing, but it still stinks as I'd love to use my SII or Thunderbolt over the crap I'm forced to use today. They just don't make Android like they used to, and no amount of themes or sideloading can fix it. They also don't make phones that look unique anymore. Everything has to be the same boring glass/plastic slab with multiple cameras. Tech stagnation ain't no myth. It's been with us since 2015.

If it were simply possible to port Android 2.3 to a modern handset, like using Android x86 on a modern laptop, or Linux on a modern phone, at least I'd be happy. Today I'm forced to use something I hate, with an OS I no longer recognize, and with half-done themes/old apps to temporarily create the illusion of Android 2.3/iOS 6 (until the modern bits reassert themselves, like the safe volume prompt, or a delete email confirmation, or the in-call UI that can't be themed by even a third party calling app, or when an app crashes or isn't responding) that never lasts.

What irks me most is that AT&T takes zero issue with my using two rotary landlines at home, but won't allow me to use my Galaxy SII at all, even though it's not rooted, and is bearing their logo. Worse, no carrier even exists to fill the gap. They all committed this 'upgrade or die' mentality. With zero consumer demand for it. And, they'll do it again. One day I'm certain that 5G will get shut down, so I'm forced to constantly upgrade against my will, disposing of perfectly working devices for the sake of 'newer is better!'
 
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I have a Synology NAS and planned to move all cloud storage like OneDrive in-house, while moving from Windows to Kubuntu Linux before Win10 reaches EOL. Considering the horrendous new WINDOWS terms & conditions effective September 23rd, however, I'm trying to accelerate my migration. Big time.

:mad:
 
The_Chief said:
I have a Synology NAS and planned to move all cloud storage like OneDrive in-house, while moving from Windows to Kubuntu Linux before Win10 reaches EOL. Considering the horrendous new WINDOWS terms & conditions effective September 23rd, however, I'm trying to accelerate my migration. Big time.

:mad:
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I've been running self hosted nextcloud for years and it's been very reliable.
 
I am full Linux now. I don't know what it is or if it's my own dumb luck, but Linux 'just works'. I mean i can open Kmail and it downloads emails no problem, unlike Windows 10 Mail which would say 'your account settings are out of date' every two weeks. I can also fully disable updates. There is zero background internet activity when idle, it's faster, and there's no nags, notifications or annoying pop-ups.
 
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